Collapsible boat



G. Fisc"IER coLLAPsIBLE BOAT 4 Sheets-Sheat 1 Filed Deo. 3, 1937 NIOR'eafe fisc/gr ATTORNEY Dec. 12, 1939. G. FISCHER COLLAPSIBLE BOAT FiledDeo. 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNyI'NTOR W/gf f/Jrer 1 Y h@ Mmm,

ATTORNEY G. FISCHER COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Deo. 3, 193'? 4 Shfeets-Sheet5 l N VE TO R ea/F'gfe [QW/zer ATTORNEY Dec. 12, 1939. FISCHER-'2,183,131 l COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Dec. 3, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4V 7gg;fa

INVENTOR (ieg/jg@ ifi/3071er 2% 779% ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 12, 1939UNITED STATES eATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in boats of the folding type. Itis particularly adapted for use by hiking or cycling parties travellingin small groups of two or three people.

One object of this invention is a portable boat which can be compactlyfolded, inserted' in a knapsack, and carried either upon the back of oneperson, or between two persons by hand.

Another object is a portable boat which can be collapsed quickly andfolded in a compact package, and as quickly unpacked and transformedinto a boat ready for use.

Another object is a portable boat relatively light in weight and of fewand simple parts.

Other objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings comprising four sheets of twenty figures numbered Figs.1 to 20 inclusive, certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

Fig. 1 is a general top view of the boat assembled ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a top View of one-half of one form of a collapsible frameworkfor said boat.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view of the boat taken along theline 4--4 of Figure 2 but with the outer shell or skin in position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional View of the boat of Figure 1 takensubstantially amidships through the cockpit.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section of the canvas double bottom. l

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of the frameworkv in partiallyopen (or collapsed) position.

Fig. 8- is a perspective view showing a portion of the gunwale and of across rib.

Fig, 9 is a perspective View showing the bow f. or stern) assembly.

Fig. 10 is a perspective View of a knapsack or hand portable bagcontaining the folded boat packed and ready for transport.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional View of an alternative form of jointconstruction forthe gunwale framework.

Fig. 12 is a top view of a modied form of framework.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section of the preferred form of socket jointbetween framework members.

Fig. 14 is a perspective View of another form of cross rib constructionand gunwale mounting.

dotted outline) illustrating said framework in partiallyvopen (orcollapsed) position.

Fig. 1'7 is a vertical sectional View of an alternative form of frameconstruction.

Fig. 18 illustrates one method of fastening the y canvas shell or yskinto the framework.

Fig. 19 is a side view of a bow (or stern) framework assembly; and

Fig. 20 is a plan View taken along the line 2li-2B of Fig. 19, lookingin the direction of the V arrows.

Like reference characters designate correspondin'g parts throughout theseveral gures of the drawings.

The invention is preferably embodied in a boat of the double ender type(Fig. 1), having ends I3 and i4 constituting the bow and stern, or thestern and the bow, as the operator chooses. When the end i3 is therbowthe covered portion Il) is the forward deck and the covered portion l Ithe after deck; and vice versa when the end 'I4 ifs the bow. The boat isprovided with an open cockpit i2 which is provided with a reinforceddouble canvas bottom 33 (Fig. 6). The frame may consist of a series ofsections of hollow tubing hinged together at the points 23 to form agunwale 2|. A series of cross ribs ll are positioned at spaced intervalsfrom end to end of the boat, the shape of said cross ribs beingillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. The tubular sections of the gunwale 2| arepivotally supported upon the ends of the cross ribs Il as illustratedvariously in Figs. 4 and 5. A series of double barrelled locking`sleeves 22 (Figs. 3, 5, 8) serve to lock adjacent sections of. thegunwale together. The locking sleeves 22 are slidably mounted upon thetubular sections of gunwale 2! to quickly engage and disengage when theframe is extended or collapsed. The tubular sections 0f gunwale 2l maybe retained upon the ends of cross ribs I 'l by means of a series` ofsleeves 3l! (Figs. 4 and 5); sleeves being retained upon the ends of thecross ribs in any suitable manner as by internal threading (Fig. 4)pinching (Fig. 17), or otherwise.

The bow (and stern) may consist of a pair of curved end frames 2li-2U(Figs. 3 and 9) pivot-l also pivotally mounted upon the upper end ofcross rib I1. The bow (and stern) assembly is further reinforced with anend fastener I9 (Fig. 9). End fastener I9 is provided with openings forreceiving the upper ends of the tubings I8-I 9, and openings for thefree ends of the end frames 2li-29. These several parts may then belocked together by means of a plurality of locking nuts screwed upon thethreaded ends of the end frames ZIJ-20 (Fig. 9).

The cross ribs I1 are secured to the reinforced double canvas bottom 33at selected spaced intervals as best illustrated in Fig. 6. The canvasbottom 33 may include outer and inner reinforcing strips 24, 25 (Fig.6), the cross ribs I1 being secured in a series of canvas pockets 26(Fig. 6). The strips 24 and 25 (Fig. 6), I5 and I6 (Fig. 3), serve toreinforce the bottom of the hull which is made of water-proof canvas orother suitable material; and said strips are also long enough to foldaround the end frames 20-20, over the end fastener I9, and engage aroundthe end tubes I8-I8, thus further strengthening the boat at bow andstern.

'Ihe hull consists of a water-proof fabric fastened to the cross ribsI1, by means of canvas loops 26 (Figs. 4 and 5). If the boat is of theclosed kayak type, the canvas hull covers the framework completelyexcept for the open cockpit I2. The free ends of the canvas hull may befastened together above the cross ribs I1 in any suitable manner as by aseries of grommets 68 (Fig. 4). The cockpit may be provided with a seatconsisting of a removable unsinkable air cushion 28 and a canvas backrest 21, said back rest being suitably hemmed at the bottom to cross ribI1, and at the top to a transverse supporting rib 29 (Fig. 5).

The boat may be readily prepared by merely turning the tubular sectionsforming the gunwale 2I` about the hinges 23 and the pivots formed by thecross ribs I1, until adjacent tubular sections are in line, when thedouble barrel locking sleeves 22 are slidably adjusted to lock adjacentsections of gunwale 2| in alignment. The tips of the end frames 29 arepassed through the openings in the end tubes I8 and are then broughttogether at bow and stern and locked in place with the end fasteners I9(Fig. 9). Reinforcing strips I5 and I6 are fastened around the end frameand secured around the end tubes I8 in any suitable manner as bygrommets or tie tapes. The free ends of the outer canvas shell are thenbrought together above the cross ribs I1 and fastened together in anysuitable manner as by grommets 68 (Fig. 4).

To pack the boat the procedure is reversed: The hull fastenings arereleased; the canvas ends at bow and stern unfastened; the end fastenersI9 released; the sleeves 22 disengaged; and the hinged sections oftubing forming the gunwale 2I turned upon their hinges 23 and the pivotsformed by the cross ribs I1 (see Fig. '7) until the framework iscompletely collapsed. The boat thus collapsed may be folded up andinserted in the knapsack 34 (Fig. 10) ready for transport. The knapsackmay be provided with a plurality of ribs 35, designed to hold the wallsof the knapsack in extended position.

The bow and stern cross ribs I1 may be reinforced by the braces 3I-3Iused in conjunction with suitable T members 32-32 (Fig. 4).

A flush hinge 38 (Fig. 11) may be formed by rabbeting the ends 31 ofadjoining sections of tubing 36; thus dispensing with the double barrellocking sleeves 22, which may then be replaced with a single lockingsleeve 39. The opposite ends of the tubular sections 36 which sectionsare pivotally mounted upon the cross ribs I1 as pivots, will besimilarly rabbeted to form a straight line joint.

A very satisfactory straight line gunwale construction may be obtainedby using the type of socket joint illustrated in Figs. 13 and 17.Adjacent ends of the tubular sections 2|, are capped with the end caps42 and 43. These end caps are slotted as best indicated at 45 and 48, topermit turning movement of the double headed link member 46 whichpivotally interconnects the end caps 42 and 43. The end caps areprovided with Shanks 44 and 41 which are ush jointed within the ends ofthe tubular sections 2I-2I; the Shanks 44 and 41 being secured to thetubular sections 2I by a suitable tongue and groove lock 49 (Fig. 13). Asingle locking sleeve 49 is used to lock adjacent sections 2I-2I incorrect alignment. In this construction each cross rib I1 may beprovided with a cross brace 56 (Fig. 14); the cross braces 50 may bedetachably secured in position by means of double barrel locking sleeves5I--5I similar to sleeves 22 previously described, or they may befastened in place in any other preferred manner as by means of T sockets53 (Fig. 15). The pivots for the tubular sections 2| may consist of theheaded studs 52 (Fig. 14), or of nipples 54 (Fig. 15).

A folding keel 4I (Fig. 12) may be fastened between the bow and sterncross ribs I1-I1 (Fig. 3) to which the bow and stern end frames 20-20are respectively attached; said keel being held in proper position byloops of canvas secured at spaced intervals to the reinforcing strips I5and I 6 (Fig. 3) or the reinforced double canvas bottom (Fig. 2).

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 16 to 20, the framework includes aplurality of cross ribs 50', and a plurality of floating ribs 5B (or 51)positioned therebetween. By the expression oating ribs is meant thoseribs which are not attached to the keel. The folding keel 55 ispivotally mounted at 52 at the center of bottom section 1I of each crossrib 50', while each port section and each starboard section of gunwale2I is pivotally supported at 52 to the port or starboard side, as thecase may be, of the upper end of each cross rib 50 and each oating rib56, 51. Thus while both the cross ribs 59 and the floating ribs 56, 51are pivotally secured to the gunwale sections, only the cross ribs 50are pivotally secured to the keel sections, the ribs 5S and 51, etc.,being free to float relative to the keel, hence their name floatingribs. In Fig. 16, certain of the cross ribs and floating ribs are partlybroken away to show a pivotal connection 52', and the end caps 42, 43,of keel 55. Instead of using tubular metal sections 2I to form thegunwale, wooden rods 62 (Fig. 1'7) made of some hard wood such as ash,oak, or the like, may be substituted for the metal sections 2I, and theend caps 43 may be secured to said wooden rods S2 in any preferredmanner as by the pinch punching 6I (Fig. 17).

The ends of the wooden rods 62 may be cut away to conform to the contourof the ball head 58 of the link member 46. In this construction thepairs of end frames 29-29 shown in Fig. 9, are reduced to two single endframes 26, connected one at the bow end and the other at the stern endof the keel 55. Each end tube I 8 terminates in a hook shaped member 63(Fig. 19)

"ribs Eil (Fig. 18) below the gunwale Zi.

'adapted to fit-in one of the recesses 64 formed in a metal cap 69suitably secured to the upper end of the rend frame 20 (Fig. 20). Thehooks 63 may be retained in the recesses Et of the metal cap S9 in anypreferred manner as by means of the hexagon nut 65 (Figs. 19'and 20).

' The canvas hull may be secured to the cross When so constructed theedge of the hull may be folded to form two or more plies (il lockedtogether by a series of grommets '56, each' grommet being provided withan opening large enough to receive the neck of one of the T sockets t3.At

Itheir pivotal points the gunwale members 2i may be reinforced by metalsleeves lli, through which a round headed screw bolt S, threadablysecured in the neck of the T socket 53, may be inserted to form thegunwale pivot.

The laterally inwardly projecting portions of the upper end of eachcross rib i1 form in effect shoulders or deck frames for supporting thedeck I0, H at spaced intervals, the deck being of the flush type, withan open cockpit i2 amidships. The cross braces 5B (Figs. 14, 15)reinforce the cross ribs il, and help them to` retain their propershape, so as not to distort the lines of the hull.

What is claimed is: y

1. In a collapsible boat, a plurality of cross ribs of progressivelyincreasing and decreasing width corresponding to the boats beam and thewidth of the boat fore and aft of the beam; each of said cross ribshaving a substantially V shaped central section conforming to thecontour of the tion conforming to the contour of the sides and freeboardof the boat, and laterally and inwardly extending pieces conforminggenerally to the contour of the deck of the boat; a plurality of pairsof tubular sections hinged together to define the boats gunwale whensaid sections are eX- tended in alignment, there being as many pairs oftubular sections as there are cross ribs; said pairs of sections beingindividually pivotally mounted upon the cross ribs, there being atubular section pivotally mounted adjacent each inner end of eachinwardly extending piece; end frames conforming to the contour of thebow and stern secured to the bow and stern cross ribs; means forsecuring the upper end of each end frame to the end section of thegunwale to complete the boat frame; and a plurality of sleeve members,one for each hinge, slidably mounted upon said tubular sections, forlocking adjacent tubular sections in alignment against movement abouttheir hinge.

2. In a collapsible boat, a plurality of` cross ribs of progressivelyincreasing and decreasing width corresponding to the boats beam and thewidth of the boat fore and aft of the beam; each of said cross ribshaving a substantially V shaped central section conforming to thecontour of the boat bottom and substantially perpendicular extensionpieces in continuation of the wings of said V shaped section conformingto the contour of the sides and freeboard of the boat; a plurality ofpairs of tubular sections hinged together to define the boats gunwalewhen said sections are extended in alignment the number of pairs oftubular sections being equal to the number of cross ribs; each pair ofsections being individually pivotally mounted upon the opposite ends oftheir associated cross rib; end frames conforming to the contour of thebow and stern secured to the bow and stern cross ribs; means forsecuring the upper end of each end frame to the end section of thegunwale to complete the boats frame; and a plurality of sleeve members,one for each hinge, slidably mounted upon said tubular sections, forlocking adjacent tubular sections in alignment against movement abouttheir hinge.

3. In a collapsible rboat construction, a series of ribs, includingcross ribs aligned in parallel spaced relation and oating ribspositioned therebetween, saidribs being of progressively increasing anddecreasing width corresponding to the boats beam and the width of theboat` fore and aft of the beam; .said ribs conforming to the contour ofthe bottom, sides, and freeboard, of the boat; a keel comprising aplurality of folding sections adapted to be arranged in end to endabutment when extended; a plurality of ball and socket connections forhingedly securing said keel sections together; said keel sections beingpivotally supported by said cross ribs.. said keel sections abutting endto end adjacent said iioating ribs; a series of rods, each rod beingpivotally supported relative to the port or starboard upper end of oneof the ribs; aseries of ball and socket connections for securingadjacent ends of the pivoted rods together to form the port andstarboard gunwales respectively; means for securing the respective endsections of the port and starboard gunwales to the keel fore and aft toform the bow and stern frames; and means, associated with each'individual ball and socket connection, operable to lock adjacent keelsections, and adjacent sections of rod forming the gunwale, inalignment, against collapsing movement, to retain the keel, gunwale,cross ribs, and floating ribs. in extended position to complete theframework of lthe boat.

4; In a collapsible boat construction, a series of ribs, including crossribs aligned in paralel spaced relation and floating ribs positionedtherebetween, said ribs being of progressively increasing and decreasingwidth corresponding to the boats beam and the width of the boat fore andaft of the beam; said ribs conforming to 'the contour of the bottom,sides, and freeboard, of the boat; a keel comprising a plurality offolding sections adapted to be arranged in end to end abutment whenextended; a plurality of ball and socket connections for hingedlysecuring said keel sections together; said keel sections being pivotallysupported by said cross ribs, each keel section extending from theiioating rib forward to the iioating rib aft of its associated pivotalsupn port; a. series of rods, each rod being pivotally supportedrelative to the port or starboard upper end of one of the ribs; a seriesof ball and socket connections for securing adjacent ends of the pivotedrods together to form the port and starboard gunwales respectively;means for securing the respective end sections of the port and starvboard gunwales to the keel fore and aft to form the bow and sternframes; means, associated with each individual ball and socketconnection, operable to lock adjacent keel sections, and adjacentsections of rod forming the gunwale, in alignment, against collapsingmovement, to retain the keel, gunwale, cross ribs, and oating ribs, inextended position to complete the framework of the boat; a sheet offoldable waterproof fabric adapted when stretched over the completedframework to form the shell of the boat; and means for securing saidfabric sheet to said ribs.

GEORGE FISCHER,

